Power-transmission system.



PATENTED APR. 10, 1906.

R. WILLIAMS. POWER TRANSMISSION SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 11. 1905.

2 SHEETSSHBET 1.

wi/lmeooao PATENTED APR. 10, 1906. R. WILLIAMS. POWER TRANSMISSION SYSTEM.

APPLICATION IILEI) JAN. 11, 1905.

2 SHEETS-S BET 2.

PATENT UFFI CE.

ROBERT WILLIAMS, OF COALDALE, PENNSYLVANIA.

POWER-TRANSIVHSSlON SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 10, 1906.

Application filed January 11, 1905. Serial No. 240,583.

To all whom, it may concern.

Be it known that I, ROBERT WILLIAMS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Coaldale, in the county of Schuylkill and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Power-Transmission System, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in the means for transmitting power from one point to another, and particularly between comparatively distant stations.

One of the principal objects is to provide novel mechanism of a simple nature whereby power may be readily transmitted to great distances in indirect lines and at comparatively small cost and loss.

Another object is to provide means that will occupy but little space and will permit the ready connection thereto of'practically any number of mechanisms to be driven.

A still further object is to provide mechanism of a simple nature that will secure the reversal of motion whenever the same may be found desirable or expedient.

An embodiment of the invention that is considered preferable is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and is described in the following specification.

An inspection of the claims hereto appended will clearly indicate that the said invention is not limited to the exact construction and detailed arrangement shown, but is open to various changes and modifications.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of the system. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view. Fig 4 is a cross-sectional view. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the line-shaft.

Similar reference numerals designate conresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

In the embodiment illustrated a motorshaft 11 is shown, which may be driven from any suitable source of power, an engine 10 being illustrated in this particular instance. This motor-shaft is provided with a plurality of angularly-disposed cranks 12, four being shown, though any number desired may be employed. A line-shaft 13 is illustrated, said line-shaft having a plurality of angularly-disposed cranks 14, corresponding to the cranks 12 of the motor-shaft. Connections 15, preferably in the form of cables, are made between the corresponding cranks 12 and 14, said cables being secured by suitable journal links 16 to their respective cranks. In view of the fact that the connected cranks are at all times dis osed in substantially parallel relation it wi 1 be apparent that when the motor-shaft 10 is rotated in one direction or the other the lineshaft 13 will be similarly rotated because of the cranks and connections.

Counter-shafts 17 and 18 are illustrated as being driven from the line-shaft 13. The counter-shaft 17 is shown as being located from the power plant. This counter-shaft 17 is provided with a plurality of angularly-disposed cranks 18, corresponding to the cranks 14 of the line shaft. The corresponding cranks 14 and 19 are connected by cables 20, and said cranks are so related that the shaft 17 will revolve in the same direction as the shaft 13. In this particular instance, as it is desired to transmit power from the line-shaft to a considerable distance, it is very desirable to prevent the lateral play of the connections 20, said connections being illustrated as passing underground. To this end idler rollers or pulleys 21, suitably journaled on shafts 22, are located between the line-shaft sides of the cables 20, said cables operating upon the pulleys during the rotation of the shafts and said pulleys being located contiguous to said shafts.

As shown particularly in Fig. 2, the idlerpulleys contiguous to the line-shaft 13 are disposed in line with the lowermost portion of the paths of revolution of the cranks 14, while the idler-pulleys contiguous to the shaft 17 are located substantially in line with the-uppermost portion of the paths of revolution of the cranks 19. By this arrangetions of the cables between the pulleys 21 are held against lateral play and that said cables have comparatively slight longitudinal movement only. Thus said portions can be passed through comparatively small guide-tubes 23 and will need but little space for their movements.

The counter-shaft 18 is provided with a plument, therefore, it will be seen that the porin a separate building and at some distance 13 and the counter-shaft 17 and on opposite rality of crank-arms 24, and particular attention is invited to the disposition of these arms with respect to the cranks 14 of the line-shaft, in that the arrangement, together with the cable connections between the correspon (1- ing cranks, effects a reverse movement on the part of the shaft 18 to that of the shaft 13. It will be observed that the crank 24, which is being drawn toward the shaft 13 by the crank 14, connected thereto, is always disposed oppositely to said connected crank 14, and consequently while two of said sets of connected cranks are disposed in substantially the same relation the other two are oppositely disposed. The result is that the shaft 18 will be rotated in a direction opposite to that of the driving or line shaft 13. In order to show how the cables may be disposed in indirect paths, the cable connections 25 are shown as passing over rollers 26, located in different positions and constituting supports which permit the free longitudinal movements of the cables, but prohibit their lateral play.

From. the above it will be seen that mechanism is provided for transmitting motion which is simple and powerful and may be made to occupy comparatively little space. Furthermore, the motion may be readily reversed without in any manner altering the type of the structure and without the necessity of crossed belts or other analogous arrangements. A still further important feature resides in the arrangement whereby the same cranks of the line-shaft which are employed for receiving power from the motorshaft may in turn transmit power to one or any number of counter-shafts, said cranks being employedeven where the motion is re versed, as shown in the connections with the counter-shaft 18. This, it will be clear, is a distinct advantage over belting, wherein a separate pulley must be employed for each connection. Moreover, the system is particularly adapted for transmitting power over indirect routes, as the cables can be passed over hills, buildings, or other obstructions or through valleys or depressed places by merely supporting said cables upon rollers,

the cables having merely longitudinal move ment and no lateral play. This will be clear by reference to the connections shown between the line-shaft 13 and counter-shaft 18.

the idlers during the rotation of the cranks and preventing the lateral play of said connections.

2. In a powertransmission system, the combination. with spaced shafts, each having a plurality of cranks, of flexible connections between the cranks, and idlers located between the shafts on opposite sides of the connections, said connections operating against the idlers during the rotation of the cranks and said idlers preventing the lateral play of said connections.

3. In a powertransmission system, the combination with spaced shafts, each having a plurality of cranks, of connections between the cranks of the shafts, idler-rollers located between and contiguous to the shafts on opposite sides of the connections, said connections operating over the rollers and said rollers preventing the lateral play of the connections.

1. In a power-transmission system, thecombination with spaced shafts, each having a plurality of angularly-disposed cranks, of cables connecting the corresponding cranks of the shafts, and idler-rollers located on opposite sides of the cables contiguous to the shafts, said cables operating over the rollers.

5. In a powertransmission system, the combination with spaced shafts, each having a plurality of cranks, of connections between the cranks, and rollers about which said connections operate.

6. In a power transmission system, the combination with spaced shafts, each having a plurality of cranks, of sets of spaced rollers, and connections between the cranks operating over said rollers.

7. In a power transmission system, the combination with a shaft having a plurality of cranks, of another shaft having a plurality of cranks, and connections between the corresponding cranks of said shafts, the connected cranks of said shafts being'disposed in opposite relations at certain points in their paths of revolution and said shafts revolving in opposite directions.

8. In a power transmission system, the combination with a shaft having a plurality of cranks, of another shaft havinga pliuality of cranks corresponding to those of the firstmentioned shaft, certain of said corresponding cranks being disposed in opposite relation, and connections between the corresponding cranks whereby upon the rotation of one shaft in one direction the other Will be rotated in a reverse direction.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afiiXed my signature in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

ROBERT WILLIAMS.

Witnesses:

JOHN H. SIGGERS, B. G. FosTER. 

